While I'm a fan of well-designed and properly used off-grid systems, unless I had other reasons (ex.pumping water) for siting a major PV array where the tractor sits, I'd use a portable gas generator.
Not sure about USA offerings, but Honda offers what they call Cold Climate Technology in Canada, aimed at dealing with carb icing concerns. (I don't sell Honda
, just one example of a gen that can deal well with Winter temps).
For OP's application, I'd secure a generator in the back of a truck or trailer for the wife to use - even a suitcase sized one would have enough power for a 500w block heater, and some also have 12vdc outputs too - with those I'd also set up quick connect to the tractor battery, and top up it's starting battery while running the block heater.
Won't claim it as my idea..... many contractors starting out of the way diesels in the dead of a Canadian Winter have been using generators for this for quite a while.
Rgds, D.
Not sure about USA offerings, but Honda offers what they call Cold Climate Technology in Canada, aimed at dealing with carb icing concerns. (I don't sell Honda
, just one example of a gen that can deal well with Winter temps).For OP's application, I'd secure a generator in the back of a truck or trailer for the wife to use - even a suitcase sized one would have enough power for a 500w block heater, and some also have 12vdc outputs too - with those I'd also set up quick connect to the tractor battery, and top up it's starting battery while running the block heater.
Won't claim it as my idea..... many contractors starting out of the way diesels in the dead of a Canadian Winter have been using generators for this for quite a while.
Rgds, D.
